Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?

This article draws on a case study of how one school changed its annual appraisal process through the use of Teaching as Inquiry (TAI). Appraisal lies at the nexus of accountability and support for teachers, amidst a backdrop of global neo-liberal reforms and education policy initiatives that has u...

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Main Author: Robert Andrew Smyle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tuwhera Open Access Publisher 2022-05-01
Series:New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/307
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author Robert Andrew Smyle
author_facet Robert Andrew Smyle
author_sort Robert Andrew Smyle
collection DOAJ
description This article draws on a case study of how one school changed its annual appraisal process through the use of Teaching as Inquiry (TAI). Appraisal lies at the nexus of accountability and support for teachers, amidst a backdrop of global neo-liberal reforms and education policy initiatives that has ultimately eroded trust in teachers. This case study will employ the use of Michel Foucault’s “governmentality” (2000a, p. 201) to look at the annual examination of teacher work through appraisal. The contestability of this space, as teachers become sites of both resistance and drivers for change, is highlighted and the successes and challenges of recent innovations will be discussed. While TAI provides opportunity to do ‘ethical work’ to transform teaching pedagogy, it raises the key question of how to reimagine appraisal to adequately provide accountability and promote excellence. A collaborative approach using PLGs (Professional Learning Groups) and critical friends is proposed as one innovative method of transforming teaching pedagogy in this space.
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spelling doaj-art-656dd99fdac14b9a9fcbb64f7ac915502025-08-20T02:32:11ZengTuwhera Open Access PublisherNew Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work1176-66622022-05-0119110.24135/teacherswork.v19i1.307Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?Robert Andrew Smyle0Paraparaumu College This article draws on a case study of how one school changed its annual appraisal process through the use of Teaching as Inquiry (TAI). Appraisal lies at the nexus of accountability and support for teachers, amidst a backdrop of global neo-liberal reforms and education policy initiatives that has ultimately eroded trust in teachers. This case study will employ the use of Michel Foucault’s “governmentality” (2000a, p. 201) to look at the annual examination of teacher work through appraisal. The contestability of this space, as teachers become sites of both resistance and drivers for change, is highlighted and the successes and challenges of recent innovations will be discussed. While TAI provides opportunity to do ‘ethical work’ to transform teaching pedagogy, it raises the key question of how to reimagine appraisal to adequately provide accountability and promote excellence. A collaborative approach using PLGs (Professional Learning Groups) and critical friends is proposed as one innovative method of transforming teaching pedagogy in this space. https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/307Appraisal, Governmentality, Professional Learning Groups, Teaching as Inquiry
spellingShingle Robert Andrew Smyle
Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
New Zealand Journal of Teachers' Work
Appraisal, Governmentality, Professional Learning Groups, Teaching as Inquiry
title Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
title_full Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
title_fullStr Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
title_full_unstemmed Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
title_short Professional Learning Groups: is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture?
title_sort professional learning groups is it possible to reimagine appraisal culture
topic Appraisal, Governmentality, Professional Learning Groups, Teaching as Inquiry
url https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/teachers-work/article/view/307
work_keys_str_mv AT robertandrewsmyle professionallearninggroupsisitpossibletoreimagineappraisalculture